Archival publisher Hermes Press has announced they will issue a complete reprint of Gold Key Comics’ Dark Shadows in a series of five hardcover volumes. With the current vampire-friendly climate in entertainment media today, it seems like great timing for the return of the comic book version of the pioneering television program which aired 40 years ago, particularly with director Tim Burton’s big-screen remake of Dark Shadows in development.

The hardcover volumes will reprint the full run of 35 Gold Key comic books based on the show, first published from 1968 to 1976.

Hermes Press will completely digitally restore the supernatural series.

Dark Shadows presents the work of Silver Age comic book writers such as Donald Arneson and Arnold Drake and artist Joe Certa.

Drake, of course, was responsible for the creation of the Doom Patrol and Deadman, and Certa, illustrated the complete run of the Dark Shadows series and co-created J’onn J’onzz, The Martian Manhunter.

“The classic Dark Shadows books published by Gold Key have been out-of-print far too long; our new series of complete reprints will remedy this situation and make the entire run available to old and new fans alike,” said Hermes Press Publisher Daniel Herman.

In addition to reprinting the stories, Hermes Press will supplement each volume with poster art, pin-ups, and documentary material from the show. Each book will contain essays about the history of Dark Shadows as well as other aspects of the show.

Volume One, which will reprint Dark Shadows #1-7, will be available in March, 2010 and carry a $49.99 retail price.